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    Methoni's Castle

    messinia.mobiMONUMENTSCASTLES
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    Highlights

    • the Bourtzi

    • the gate of the castle with the walls and the bridge

    NEARBY TOWNS/VILLAGES

    • Methoni ~1Km

    The Castle of Kyparissia is also known as the Giants' Castle or the Castle of Arcadia. Due to its location, it offers the visitor a unique view, not only to the city of Kyparissia (which is 67 km from Kalamata) but also to the entire surrounding area and the Ionian Seashores. Modern scholars, based on its construction, believe that the current surviving castle is mainly Frankish, as such buildings started appearing after 1204/1205. The castle is built higher than the ancient Kyparissienta citadel and the ruins of earlier fortresses (ancient and Byzantine).

    According to mythology, Kyparissia was built by "Giants", who are said to have also made the citadel, on which the castle is located today. In other words, it is founded on "cyclopean" walls, with huge boulders, hence the name "the Giants’ Castle".

    During the years of the Byzantine Empire, the castle was renovated as part of the organisation of solid defensive shielding of coastal areas. Specifically, fortresses were built at the four corners, one of which (on the east side) is preserved and is known as the "Tower of Justinian". During the Early Byzantine period, Kyparissia is referred to as Arcadia (due to the many Arcadians who took refuge there). Since then, the old Giants’ Castle has been referred to as the Castle of Arcadia.

    During the first decades of the 13th century, the castle was dominated by the Venetians and the Franks. From 1430, it became part of the Despotate of Moreas under the control of the Palaeologians as Byzantine. In 1459, it passed into the hands of the Turks, who carried out additional fortifications. During the second Venetian period (1685-1715), the Venetians rebuilt the demolished parts of the castle (towers and ramparts) that the Turks had blown up. The castle was finally liberated by the Greeks, without a fight, on March 25th, 1821. In 1970, a small open-air theatre was built inside the castle, where cultural events and theatrical performances occur.

    The castle’s floor plan has a trapezoidal shape, which researcher Antoine Bon divided into two triangles. The northern triangle corresponds to the upper precinct or the "Upper Castle" and the southern to the lower precinct or "Lower Castle". The access to the castle was made by an embankment (ramp) which, in the part closest to the gate, was protected by a wall with loopholes. The lower part of the masonry is preserved up to the height of the ground and is built of ancient boulders (tufa stones). The rest of the walls are built with small alabaster and limestone mixed with pieces of tiles and mortar - a characteristic form of medieval construction.

    Finally, in 2007 a rescue excavation was carried out in the western foothills of the castle where the foundations of a building (probably a house) were discovered. The oldest phase of the construction dates back to the Late Hellenistic and Early Roman times (1st-century BC-1st century), while it seems that it continued to be in use until the Late Roman era (3rd-4th century).

    TAKES PLACE NEARBY...

    Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June 2022 at 16:00
    Horizon Beach Bar ~7.9Km
    FINIKOUNDA ROCK & ROLL BEACH PARTY

    FINIKOUNDA ROCK & ROLL BEACH PARTY

    DJ set

    CUSTOMS

    The Wedding of Koutroulis..

    The Wedding of Koutroulis..

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    The breakage of the pomegranate fruit

    The breakage of the pomegranate fruit

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    ALSO YOU COULD VISIT...

    Methoni - Beach

    Methoni - Beach

    BEACHES
    ~0.6Km
    Methoni

    Methoni's Underwater Archaeological Park

    ANCIENT TIMES
    ~0.9Km
    Catacombs

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    ~3.7Km
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    BEACHES
    ~9.2Km

    NEARBY, YOU WILL FIND

    • ACCOMODATION
    • ACTIVITIES
    • CATERING
    • FOODS
    • GOING OUT
    • LOCAL PRODUCTS
    • SHOPPING
    HOTELS
    ~0.6 km

    Methoni Beach Hotel

    FOR PRESENTS
    ~0.7 km

    Deximi

    RESTAURANTS
    ~0.7 km

    MODON

    WATER SPORTS
    ~0.8 km

    Methoni Boat Rentals

    BRUNCH
    ~0.8 km

    Oneiron Gefsis

    CREPES AND SANDWICH
    ~0.9 km

    Glykofono, Creperie

    HOTELS
    ~0.9 km

    Hotel Finikas

    BARS
    ~1 km

    'Doureios Ippos' Café - Bar - Billiards

    RESTAURANTS
    ~1.1 km

    "Methoni" Restaurant (Camping)

    CAMPING SITES
    ~1.1 km

    "Methoni" Camping

    SWEET SHOPS
    ~1.2 km

    Athanasiou Traditional Bakery since 1904 - Methoni

    RIDE A BIKE
    ~1.2 km

    METHONIBIKES

    HOTELS
    ~1.5 km

    Abeloessa Methonian Hospitality

    HOTELS
    ~3.9 km

    Quinta Essentia Suites

    HOTELS
    ~4.1 km

    Finiki Plaza

    COFFEE SHOPS
    ~7 km

    Coffee Market

    SWEET SHOPS
    ~7.1 km

    Medusa Supermarket

    WATER SPORTS
    ~7.1 km

    What' sup - Kayak / Sup Rental

    BRUNCH
    ~7.9 km

    Horizon Beach Bar

    CAMPING SITES
    ~8.1 km

    Camping "Thines"

    RESTAURANTS
    ~8.4 km

    Sun & Sea - Restaurant / Beach Bar

    CAMPING SITES
    ~8.6 km

    Camping Anemomilos

    HOTELS
    ~8.7 km

    Lontos Village

    FOR PRESENTS
    ~9 km

    Kioupi & Rogi - Traditional products

    JEWELLERY
    ~9 km

    By Sergio

    BARS
    ~9 km

    Lostre Coffee - Bar

    RESTAURANTS
    ~9 km

    Elena

    BARS
    ~9 km

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    FROM THE OLIVE TREE
    ~9 km

    Liokarpos - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

    RESTAURANTS
    ~9 km

    Dionyssos

    SWIMMING EQUIPMENT
    ~9.1 km

    FOTIS SEAMAN - MARES - Foinikounta

    HOUSES TO RENT
    ~9.1 km

    Muses Villas

    RIDE A BIKE
    ~9.1 km

    Finibikes

    WATER SPORTS
    ~9.1 km

    Water Park - Foinikounda

    RESTAURANTS
    ~9.2 km

    Trattoria Nanninella

    RESTAURANTS
    ~9.3 km

    Yialo - Yialo Cafe Restaurant

    HOTELS
    ~9.3 km

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    HOTELS
    ~9.3 km

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    HOTELS
    ~9.4 km

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    BEACH BARS
    ~9.7 km

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